Punch Shots: Tough time to be a fan in New York

Ben Stiller, center, sits between his son and actor Spike Lee as they watch warm-ups before the New York Knicks faced the New Orleans Pelicans in an NBA game on Sunday. The Knicks lost, which theyíve done a lot of this year. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Itís often said New York has the best and worst of everything, but when it comes to sports, at present itís the latter.

The city claims eight professional teams and five boroughs, but nary a winner among them.

Technically, the Yankees won eight more games than they lost in 2013, but they missed the playoffs and have spent $238 million in the last 10 days to attempt not to do so again. It seems safe to say the Yankees didnít consider 2013 a success.

The next-best New York team is the NHLís Rangers, who are tied with the Flyers entering play Thursday night. Thatís not as bad as it sounded when the Flyers were 1-7, but both teams are still only .500.

Advertisement

The Mets won 74 games, the cityís two NFL teams are both 5-7 and the Islanders, who made the playoffs last year after missing the previous five, are starting another non-playoff streak. Theyíre last.

But in no sport is New York worse than basketball, where the Knicks and Nets have combined for eight wins. There are NBA teams not trying terribly hard to win --some would say tanking -- which win more than that.

The best team in New York in 2013 is located in the Bronx, but isnít the Yankees. Fordhamís 12-1 college football team, which includes Temple and Villanova among its wins, plays in the second round of the FCS playoffs Saturday. It might be a while before New York and playoffs are in the same sentence again.